Iowa Tight End T.J. Hockenson’s Versatility Would Immediately Upgrade The Redskins Offense And May Be Worthy Of A First-Round Pick

Hogs Haven takes a look at 2019 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Redskins

T.J. Hockenson, Tight End
School: Iowa | Conference: Big Ten
College Experience: RS Sophomore | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 6-5 / 243 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 1st round
NFL Comparison: Travis Kelce

College Statistics

Player Overview

Hailing from Chariton, Iowa, Hockenson came into college an elite all-state first-teamer as a high school senior. After being red-shirted his first year at Iowa University, Hockenson played in 2017, earning multiple notable achievements as a freshman. Hockenson was an Academic All-Big Ten athlete and honorable mention Big Ten All-Freshman member. In 2018 he upped the anti, earning even more notable achievements. Hockenson earned himself the top tight end in the nation award, the John Mackey Award. He also earned the first-team All-America by American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and USA Today along with multiple Second-Team All-America award from multiple media outlets. Hockenson is the most complete tight end coming into the 2019 NFL Draft.

Strengths

• Toughness, thoroughly finishes plays until the whistle is snapped. He plays with the strength needed to be a in-line tight end at the professional level.
• His strength translates into the run game, blocking is incredible and has solid hand placement when attacking the defender.
• Versatile player; plays in-line, slot, h-back, run blocker, and can stay in and pass-protect.
• Has great hands and the toughness as well to catch contested passes thrown his way.
• Shown the ability to comfortably run all of the common tight end routes like flats, delayed routes, seams, crosses, and stick routes.
• Great football IQ, displayed high-level awareness in situational football with the help of his technique and athletic skills.
• Deceptively fast for a tight end. Combine 40-yard dash resulted in a 4.7 40; however, game speed is different and showed him getting behind defenders on multiple occasions.

Weaknesses

• Not an elite athlete like his teammate Noah Fant?

Let’s See His Work (Tight End #38):

How he would fit on the Redskins

Hockenson is a pro-ready tight end and may be the most complete tight end coming out of this year’s NFL Draft. The Redskins need to reload at the tight end position, with an aging and often injured Jordan Reed being the featured weapon of the offense, and he has proven to be unreliable due to availability. Vernon Davis, who is often available, is not a consistent receiver nor is he an effective run-blocker. Hockenson will immediately upgrade the tight end position as both a receiver and blocker. Not only does he improve the tight end position but he continues to improve upon the grit that the offense currently has in Trent Williams, Brandon Scherff, and Adrian Peterson; who are known for their toughness and grit. Why would the Redskins pass on an opportunity to improve their in-line blocking and a weapon in the receiving game? That goes against the team’s intentions on upgrading their receiving corp, which should include tight end options.

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